Emma on the run for a good cause

A BRIDLINGTON woman who suffered from M.E when she was younger is taking part in a 5k run to raise money for a charity which helps people with the illness.

Emma Soulsby, 32, who now lives in Edinburgh, has made a full recovery from the debilitating illness and will be running her first 5k race in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival this May for the Action for M.E charity.

Emma, who lived in Bridlington until she was 25 and still has family and friends in the town, said: “I feel that this charity is close to my heart and would like to be able to make other M.E sufferers see that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that one day they too can lead a normal life and do something amazing through having a positive mind and sheer determination.”

Emma, who lived on St Cuthbert Road with her parents, Ray and Jackie and sister Vickie, went to Bridlington School - who she described as “very supportive during my time with M.E” - and was the first pupil there to suffer from the illness.

She continued: “I couldn’t thank them enough for their support through the years I was Ill. I attended Bridlington School Sixth Form to catch up with my schooling.

“I still have family and friends in Bridlington; my parents, my sister, brother-in-law and nephew along with my best friend, Gemma McKie, and I make the journey home to see them all every 2-3 months or so.

“I recovered fully from M.E when I was about 18 and although I have been lucky enough to never have had a relapse, I have been left with some things as a result of M.E such as bad memory, memory blanks and bad circulation but I certainly don’t let this disrupt my life.”

Emma, who met her partner of 12 years Ross in Bridlington, will be getting married in Edinburgh exactly a year after she does her 5k run, on May 24.

She added: “My friends in Edinburgh wanted to celebrate one year to go to the big day with a few drinks but I’ll be celebrating it keeping fit and will be having a no-alcohol weekend until the race is over.”

If anyone would like to sponsor Emma and raise money to help those with M.E., visit www.justgiving.com/Emma-Soulsby